“Oh, my goodness! My poor nerves! You are ruined, Lizzy!! Utterly ruined!” The crowed parted for Mrs Bennet, fanning herself and looking as though she might really faint, rather than only pretending, as she was apt to do. She wailed loudly, leaning heavily against Lydia and Kitty for support. Lydia snickered in her hand, and Kitty followed her example, as she always did. Never before had Elizabeth so fervently wished to disappear. What had caused everyone to come rushing into the library at that moment? Had she blacked out for a moment? Everyone said they had come because they had heard a crash, but had it really been so loud that it could alert people all the way down the corridor that something was afoot?
“This must be a misunderstanding,” Caroline Bingley said hurriedly, her face ashen pale. “Mr Darcy is our guest — he would not do such a thing…” She trailed off into silence.
Somewhere in the back of the crowd, a gentleman snorted and muttered, “A likely story. Anyone can see what is going on here.” Elizabeth winced to hear a coarse chuckle, as though in agreement. Strange times indeed, when Caroline Bingley came to her defence — or perhaps not so strange, since it was Mr Darcy’s honour that she was defending. Miss Bingley had already shown herself to be a most devoted partisan for the gentleman.
Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy. He had remained silent in the face of all the accusations. It was a worthy thing to keep one’s composure in a situation like this. Even so, she wished he would say something.
Mr Darcy seemed to have eyes only for her. Several more people had pressed into the room, but they all parted so her father could come to the front.“What is the meaning of this?” her father asked.
“Your daughter has gone and ruined herself! And with none other than Mr Darcy!” Her mother wailed.
Elizabeth’s shame only deepened. She did not like Mr Darcy, but that did not mean she wanted to be rude to his face.“Mama!” she hissed.“It was only an accident.” The excuse sounded weak in her own ears. She could only imagine what their audience was thinking. No doubt the most vicious gossip would come out of this night.
Mr Darcy cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. He waited until there was silence, every eye in the room fixed on him. “Though I assure you that our situation is the purest accident, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s actions are above reproach, it is true that I have compromised her.” He turned to her, his eyes full of concern and genuine sorrow.“We must now consider ourselves to be engaged.”
Miss Bingley’s face fell, and she looked as if she was about to protest. She bit back a response, disappointment filling her face. For Elizabeth, it was a small triumph. She had watched as Miss Bingley had shamelessly flirted with Mr Darcy, trying every trick in the book to get her to notice her. And here she was, suddenly engaged to the man Miss Bingley had wanted.
Only Elizabeth didn’t want him. She would gladly give him up, if only she could.
Many in the crowd gasped, and Elizabeth realised that for some, this was even better than going to the London theatre. But this was no play. This was their lives and she would not be tied to a man for the rest of her life because of a silly mistake.“I do not think an engagement will be necessary. It was an accident,” she protested. “We have done nothing wrong.” She moved to where her father and mother were standing — her father looking as grim as she had ever seen him and her mother wringing her hands and crying in hysterics.
“It is true, we have not acted in any way amiss. I tripped and fell. It is that simple.” He looked at each of the people standing around, watching them. It must have been terrible for him, to have so many eyes fixed eagerly on him, avidly collecting gossip. Miss Bingley had said as much when Jane had been convalescing at Netherfield. Mr Darcy was not to be teased, nor laughed at. And many in the crowd were no doubt laughing behind their hands, giggling at her misfortunes. They had no idea the cost to Mr Darcy’s pride, nor her own.
Mr Darcy came to stand beside her, their shoulders almost brushing. He looked down at her and gave an encouraging nod.“Again, I say that Miss Elizabeth has done nothing for which she need be ashamed. But I know how the world works. And I will not leave you unprotected.”
Elizabeth could stand no more. The thought of dancing with Mr Darcy had been one thing. One half-hour was something she could contend with for the sake of propriety. But to spend her life with him? The idea was unbearable.
“Papa, please. You must believe us —” she protested, but he silenced her with a severe look.
“Quiet, Lizzy,” he whispered. He looked at Mr Darcy, giving him the most serious stare she had ever seen from him.“You will come to Longbourn to discuss the betrothal tomorrow.”
Her father took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. He led her away, back to the ballroom. But she could not stand the eyes boring into her soul. Did everyone know? It seemed the news had spread from the twenty or so people that had been witness to their compromising position, like a wildfire overtaking a forest. If Mr Darcy did not marry her, she could never show her face in the village again, nor anywhere else in England, for that matter.
She had heard of young ladies running away to America to‘disappear’. But that was something she could not even consider. What of her family and friends? And she had done nothing wrong! How unfair that she would be forced to marry a man she loathed!
Jane came over to her as soon as they appeared in the foyer.“My dear, Lizzy, what on earth…” She let her words trail off, and hugging her, started to lead her to the front door. Of course, there was no way they could stay. She would be the talk of the town, and would not continue to show her face when no good would come of it.
Lydia pouted violently at leaving the ball. Kitty began to cry as they went to retrieve their wraps, and their mother made a great show of being about to faint. Mary looked violently disapproving, and Mr Bennet’s mouth was still set in a sour, grim line.
Elizabeth hung her head. Out of all his daughters, it was worst of all that she had so disappointed him. All her life, she had been her father’s favourite. Indeed, he had never tried to disguise it. But now, how far she had fallen!
“It will be well, Lizzy. You will see,” Jane said as they settled into their seat in the carriage. Mary sat beside them, and Lydia and Kitty squeezed in beside their mother. Their father climbed up beside the driver, and they set off toward home. Jane took her hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze.
“You are wrong, Jane. Elizabeth has ruined all of you. All of you!” Mrs Bennet wailed.“Mark my words, Mr Darcy made a good show of wanting to protect you in front of everyone. He felt guilty, that is all. But I will be surprised if he even comes to call on your father in the morning.”
“Mr Darcy did nothing wrong,” Elizabeth said dully. She was unsure why she felt so vehemently that she needed to defend him. But even with all of Mr Darcy’s flaws, she knew he had not acted with intent. It had only been a terrible accident.
“Mama, Mr Darcy is an honourable gentleman. He will do right by Lizzy,” Jane said.
“Everyone, let us be quiet for the duration of the ride home,” her father said, turning slightly to make sure they had heard him. Elizabeth wished she could melt into the carriage seat and slowly fade away. How was it that her evening had begun with so much promise and had ended in such disaster?
Thankfully, the younger girls obeyed Mr Bennet. Even their mother lapsed into silence. They were as silent as the grave until arriving at Longbourn. Elizabeth and Jane were the first to climb down from the carriage and head into the house. She mumbled a“good night” to her family before she hurried up the stairs with Jane and entered their bedroom. Once the door was closed, Elizabeth felt the last remnants of her strength drain away. She went to the bed and burst into sobs, her shoulder racked by the force of her emotions.
“Oh, my dear Lizzy!” Jane said in dismay. She had closed the door, but she opened it again, called for the maid, and asked her to bring up a pot of tea and two cups. She closed the door again, just as Lydia and Kitty were bounding up the stairs. Jane stayed by the door and waited, listening until the girls had passed by and were settled in their room.
Elizabeth wiped her nose with a handkerchief, but the tears would not stop flowing.“Oh, Jane, it is terrible. What am I to do?”
Jane came over and sat on the edge of the bed, drawing Elizabeth there as well.“Tell me everything that happened.”
